There are rumours circling the Internet this afternoon that AFC Bournemouth are preparing a £1 million bid for  Carlton Cole to tempt him away from the Irons.

Whether Carlton Cole who scored the Hammers third goal yesterday would consider a drop down to the Championship remains to be seen but when Enner Valencia and Diafro Sakho are fully match fit and with Andy Carroll around two months away from a return Cole must realise he is likely to drop down the striker pecking order significantly.

Carlton Cole signed a 18 month contract with West Ham in January 2014 which will take him up to the end of this season after he was previously released in May 2013. Cole admitted he once took a 50% pay cut when the Hammers dropped down the championship and has remained loyal to the club since joining from Chelsea in 2006. Whether the rumours have any substance remains to be seen.